A blog devoted to my interests which include anarchism and social movements, history, archeology, and anything else I choose to write about.

Friday, June 06, 2014

What Is Not Being Said About Bullying

Bullying
is extremely destructive and leads to a host of social problems. The
ruin of a child's self esteem in this manner can lead to everything
from under achievement to substance abuse and suicide. It is an
important step forward that schools have finally recognized this
problem and began combating bullying.

Problem
is, these steps do not go far enough, to the root cause. Nor can
they, for to do so would bring into question the very nature of the
system we live under. Politically and economically, this system is
based and run on bullying. As long as you give in to the bully, you
will get off lightly. Try to stand up for yourself and the beating
commences. So too in the adult world of work and politics. A tiny
minority own and control the wealth of society and this wealth in
turn allows them to control the system of government. The workplace
is not a democracy, but an autocracy where you are ordered around. If
you should disagree, you are threatened and often subject to verbal
abuse. If you challenge the system, the state will be used to
suppress you, which can entail verbal bullying, assault and
kidnapping. (arrest and possible prison) Any minority that questions
the system's methods or priorities will be subject to insults and
abuse in the media. This may lead to gullible members of the public
verbally or physically assaulting the minority or engaging in some
other sort of bullying.

Consider
as well our political system. Less than 40% of the electorate can
force their views upon the remaining 60%. And force they will
cheerfully use, the police and the army if need be. If this isn't
bullying, what is? The only way to end this political bullying would
be to institute a more consensus-based system.

Furthermore,
hierarchies engaged in domination, such as management, police,
military, prison or any other bureaucracies that deal with the
public, tend to attract bullies. This is not to say that everyone, or
even a majority of those involved in such hierarchies, are bullies.
A large enough minority will be found in these institutions to make
life hell for those who get in their clutches. The highly
authoritarian and “tribal” nature of these institution's culture
will also mean they will be all but impossible to root out. (Think
only of residential school victims, borstal inmates, police women
and women soldiers and what they have had to put up with in trying to
get their voices heard.)

The
only way to truly eliminate bullying is to eliminate the authoritarian
social relations that create this abuse.

1 Comments:

SteveH said...

wise words, larry. This is the missing perspective when people wring their hands over bullying and fail to see that the system around them daily drills into our children's heads the concept that if you are big enough, or rich enough, and hold the power, you can - and should- do what you want. It's only business, after all!SteveH